Fuel vaporizer



My 1. 3 c. A. FRENCH 3,

FUEL VAPORI ZER Original Filed April 6, 1932 Patented July 1%, i3

rrrr or-re I amass? rum. varonn (Charles A. li rench, Riverside, 1111.,assignor, by

mesne assi :1: in! cuts, Marl; 6. Bates origami application s in 6,1932, Serial no. 603,491. Divided and this application August llll,1933, Serial No. 6%,656

This invention relates to a device for vaporiz ing liquid fuel andforming combustible, gaseous mixtures therewith. 1

The principal object of this invention is to provide an apparatus forthecomplete vaporization of heavy liquid fuel and for the intimate mix-ling of the vaporizedfuel with air.

Another principal object is to provide means for metering the fuel,which eliminates all meterlil ing of the fuel in the liquid state withthe attendant diihculties due to the'relatively small amounts of liquidfordarge volumes of air, when forming combustible mixtures, and to theinertia and viscosity of the liquid.

15 Another object is to vaporize heavy liquid fuel with a minimum ofdecomposition and to thereby reduce the troubles caused by carbonaceousdeposits.

Another object is to provide vaporizing heat inexact proportion to therequirement of heat for a given amount of vapor orcornbustible gas.

Another object is to provide means for producing a gas oi substantiallyconstant heat value over a wide range in the rate or production.

5 The objects or the invention as above set forth, and other morespecific objects, which will be apparent as an embodiment of theinvention is described, are accomplished by supplying vaporization heatfrom the sensible heat carried by hot 30 gases to an excess of fuel,whereby theamountof fuel vaporized is exactly proportional to the heatsupplied. By vaporization in this manner, the metering of liquidfuel'with the attendant dimculties is eliminated 35 The vaporizationheat may be supplied in several ways, so long as it is in substantiallyfixed proportion to the amount ofcombustible gas de-' sired. i

This application is a division of United States 40 application, SerialNo. 603.491, filed April 6, 1932,

which discloses several difierent devices for va-- Figure- 2 is a.sectional view taken on the line- 55 2-2 pr me 1, showing in plan theliquid conto Claims. (cits-iii) tacting means utilized in theillustrated vaporr izer.

Referring to the drawing, by the use of either suction at the outlet endor pressure at the inlet end, or, in other wordsby a pressuredifierential, 5 air iscaused to flow through'an air inlet till, a nozzle65, which-is surrounded at its discharge end by a Venturi-shaped member66, and a discharge conduit fill. The member as is also shaped andarranged with respect to the nozzle 65 to give 10 an aspiratingaction ina chamber 660. formed around the nozzle by anenlargement on the member66. A conduit 58, communicating with the chamber 66a, joins said chamberwith a vaporizing chamber $9. The vaporizing chamber is formed in threesections secured together in a gas-tight manner. The uppermost sectionis comparatively small andprovides a means for connection of thevaporizer to the conduit tit. The middle. section is cylindrical in formand provides the main .partof the vaporizing chamber. The lowermostsection, in addition to being a part of the vaporizing chamber, forms areservoirln which liquid is maintained at the indicated' level by aconventional float chamber it). The float chamber is provided with a'source of liquid fuel Hi and a balancing conduit F2 for maintaining thepressure above the liquid in the float chamber the same as the pressurein the vaporizing chamber, The bottom of the liquid reservoir is formedwith a flat surface over which an agitating member 13 is adapted to berotated by a cranked shaft "I l extending through the bottom of thereservoir. A valve controlled drain ing conduit 15 is connected to thebottom of the reservoir. 1 l A conduit 16 of a substantial internaldiameter extends into the uppermost section of the vapor- -izing chamberand centrally downwardly therethrough into the main body of the chamber.A 40 cylindrical member ll, connected to the interior end of the conduit16, extends below the normal level ofthe liquid in the reservoir and isprovided with a radially extending flange l8. As best shown in'Figure'2, the flange I8 is provided with a plurality of small openings which,as illustrated,

are in the form of radially extending narrow slits. This flange, withthe openings'formed therein, provides a. bubbler plate for intimatelycontacting gases with the liquid in the reservoir.

7;, In the conduit 61, a small elbow I9 is formed with its interior openend extending toward the nozzle 65. Said elbow extends out through theconduit 51 and is joined with a T-shaped connection 80. Said connectionforms in effect a mixer 55 for the pilot light or vaporizing flame ofthe device. One end of the T-member is connected to a discharge nozzle8| whichterminates a short distance away from the open end of theconduit 18. A member 82 threaded on the nozzle 8| is adjustable towardand away from the end of the conduit 16. A fuel line 83, which may beused to conduct any type of fuel, is fitted .into the third end of the Tconnection 88. Air may also be forced in through fuel line 83 to leanthe mixture, in order toobtain more complete combustion in the flamefrom nozzle 8|, in case a strongly reducing flame is wanted on the mainburner (not.

shown).

A valve 84 is mounted in the conduit 88 in a position to regulate theflow of gas through said conduit. A valve is also mounted in the conduit64 and serves as a throttle valve to regulate the output of mixture fromthe vaporizer.

To operate the form of vaporizer above described,- air pressure isapplied to the conduit 64,

the bubble plate.

whereby suctionis created in the chamber 66a around the nozzle. alsotransmitted to the vaporizing chamber, the valve 84- being open, wherebygases are drawn in through the conduit 16 and are contacted with theliquid in the reservoir at the bottom of the vaporizing chamber bybubbling through the slits through the outer portion of the conduit 16downwardly through the inner vertical portion of said member, throughthe member 11, and out through The intimate contact obtained by bubblingthe hot gases through the liquid assures a substantially quantitativetransfer of the sensible heat in the hot gases to the-fuel in thereservoir. The vaporization continues in the chamber above'the fuellevel with equalization of temperature. The unvaporized particles offuel carried up are dropped out in the low velocity zone formed by thelarge vaporizing chamber, and the vaporized gas is superheated to acertain extent by contact with the member 11 and the conduit 18 as saidvaporized gas is drawn out through the conduit 68 into the Venturimember 68. The valve 84 regulates the proportion of vapor being drawnout with relation to the amount of air supplied through the nozzle 65.The vaporized fuel and air are thoroughly mixed in the Venturi member 68and a portion of said mixture enters the elbow n. This combustiblemixture is discharged through the nozzle 8| and is completely burned inthe conduit 16. It will, therefore, be understood that, aftervaporization has been initiated, the necessary heat is supplied bycomplete combustion of a portion of the vaporized gases.

There are several methods by which vaporizers of the type abovedescribed may be started. These methods are based upon the fact that, ifasmall enough amount of cold airis brought into intimate contact withenough fuel and immediately removed from further contact,- an ignitablemixture will result with any liquid hydrocarbon at any ordinarytemperature. To make such an This suction or depression is means andspace that is unduly large for practical purposes, so a compromise ismade, which, by the use of a little heat, permits the contacting meansto be of reasonable size.

Any of the following methods may be used:

(a) Air is drawn through-the fuel and ignited at or above the surface ofthefuel, developing heat enough to vaporize an excess of fuel which maybe 'mixed with more air and burned in the burner or .It may be startedon gasoline alone or the gasoline may be mixed with the regular fuel andthe device will operate 'inthe regular manner with out any otherpreparation.

(0) A lighted torch may be held at the pilot or gas inlet with orwithout fuel in the device. If heated while empty, it starts operationwhen fuel is turned on. If started with fuel in the bowl-or spray, itmore slowly comes into operation.

(d) An electric heater may be used to heat either the fuel or the air.If the fuel is heated, burner starts more slowly; if air is heated, itstarts at once. 7

Where, as illustrated, a bubble plate is used for intimately contactinghot gases with the liquidto be vaporized, the bubble plate must have amuch larger capacity than is necessary for normal operation in order tostart theburner. The slits formed in the bubble plate or other meanswhich might be employed to finely divide the gaseous heating fluid intofine streams, wherebyintimate contact with the liquid is obtained,assure an It is to be understood that applicant has shown and describedonly a preferred embodiment of his improved vaporizing device, and thathe claims as his invention all modifications falling within the scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A vaporizer for diflicultly volatile liquid fuels comprising avaporizing chamber, means for maintaining a pool of said liquid fuel ata predetermined level in said chamber, means for removing vaporizationproducts from said chamber, a vaporizing gas conduit communicating withthe vaporizing chamber and serving to introduce hot gases of combustionbelow the liquid level thereof, means for burning a relatively smallportion only of the vaporization products, and means for delivering theproducts thereof to the vaporizing. gas conduit.

2. Avaporizer for dimcultiy volatile liquid fuels comprising 'avaporizlng chamber; means for maintaining a pool of said liquid fuel ata predetermined level in said chamber, a valve controlled outlettherefrom for the products of vaporization, a vaporizing gas conduitcommunicating w'ithsaid chamber and serving to introduce hot gases ofcombustion below the liquid. level thereof, means for burningaipredetermined relatively small portion-only of the products ofvaporization, and means for delivering the products thereof to thevaporizing gas conduit.

than necessary for normal operation in order to 1 getthe proper surfacecarburetion for starting.

3. A vaporizer for difficultly volatile liquid fuels comprising avaporizing chamber adapted to cononly of the mixed gases from saidmixing means,

means for burning said gases, and means for-supplying the combustionproducts therefrom to the vaporizing chamber into said pool of liquidfuel and below the liquid level therein.

4. A vaporizer for difiicultly volatile liquid fuels comprising avaporizing chamber, means for maintaining a pool of said liquid fuel atapredetermined level in said chamber, an outlet conduit from saidchamber above the liquid level therein, a controlling valve positionedin said conduit, a gas and air mixing means with which said outletconduit communicates, means for removing a fixed portion of the mixedgases from said mixing means, means for burning said fixed portion, andmeans for delivering the combustion products thereof beneath the liquidlevel in the vaporizing chamber.

5. A vaporizer for diflicultly volatile liquid fuels comprising avaporizing chamber, means for maintaining a pool of said liquid fuel ata predetermined level in said chamber, means for withdrawing thevaporization products from the chamber, means for mixing said productswith air, means for Withdrawing a portion of the mixed gases, means forburning said withdrawn portion, and means for delivering the hotproducts of combustion thereof below the liquid level in the vaporizingchamber.

'6. A device asset forth in.claim 5, in which means are provided forbringing the hot combustion gases into intimate contact with the liquidfuel.

7. A device for supplying a combustible mixture of relatively heavyliquid hydrocarbon vapor and air to a combustion device, comprising avaporization chamber, means for supplying an excess of diificultlyvolatile liquid hydrocarbon fuel to said iii) chamber, an air intakehaving a Venturi therein, a conduit connecting the vaporization chamberwith the throat of said venturi for conducting the combustible productsof vaporization to the air intake, a burner, means to supply said burnerwith a metered portion of the combustible gases from the vaporizationchamber and with air sufficient forxcomplete combustion of said meteredportion, said air and combustible gas supplying means being effective toat all times supply the same ratio of air and combustible gas, and meansto direct the products of combustion from the burner into thevaporization chamber into intimate contact with said excess of liquidfuel to effect vaporization of a portion thereof.

8. A fuel oil-vaporizer, including a discharge conduit having a Venturisection, an air discharge nozzle at said Venturi section, a fuelvaporizing chamber, means for maintaining a predetermined level ofliquid fuel in the vaporizing chamber, means for withdrawing a portionof vaporized fuel from said discharge conduit and burning the same,means for delivering hot combustion gases of the burned .fuel to thevaporizing chamber below the level of the liquid fuel, whereby to causevaporization of a portion of said fuel, and means for delivering thevaporized fuel to said mixing chamber.-

9. A vaporizer as defined in claim 7, including means for removingcarbon residue from the bottom of the vaporizing chamber.

10. A vaporizer as defined in claim 7, including means for subdividingthe hot gases whereby a greater area thereof is in contact with theliquid.

11. A fuel oil vaporizer,-including a discharge conduit having a Venturisection, an air discharge nozzle at said Venturi section, a vaporizingchamber having an upper passageway communicating with the dischargeconduit near said discharge nozzle, means for maintaining, a supply'ofliquid fuel in the vaporizing chamber, a relatively smaller conduitextending into the discharge conduit and having its inner end shaped towithdraw gases from said discharge conduit, means for burning thewithdrawn gases, and means for delivering the burned gases to thevaporizing chamber below the level of liquid fuel therein.

12. A fuel oil vaporizer, including a discharge conduit having a Venturisection, an air discharge nozzle at said Venturi section, a vaporizingchamber having an upper passageway communicating with the dischargeconduit near said discharge nozzle, means for maintaining a supply ofliquid fuel in the vaporizing chamber, a relatively smaller conduitextending into the discharge conduit and having its inner end shaped towithdraw gases from said discharge conduit, an amiiary combustion"chamber in the form of an open ended conduit extending into thevaporizing chamber, the gas withdrawing conduit communicating with butseparated from the combustion conduit, means for adjusting the amount ofseparation to control the admission of air, and an extension of saidcombustion conduit extending beneath the level of liquid fuel in thevaporizing chamber.

13. The combination of claim 12, including a flange-like perforatedplate secured to the combustion conduit extension, and comprising meanseffective to finely divide the gaseous products of combustion.

14. The combination of claim 12, including a scraper disposed in thebottom of the vaporizing chamber, and means for actuating the scraper toaccumulate in the chamber.

15. A fuel oil vaporizer comprising a vaporizing chamber, means formaintaining a body" of oil in said chamber, a conduit having a Venturisection,

a forcing nozzle disposed near said Venturi sec:

in, and means for delivering hot gases of combustion from saidburnerinto said last mentioned. passageway.

16. A vaporizer for vaporizing a difficultly volatile liquid ,fuelpreparatory to burning same, which comprises a vaporization chamber,means for maintaining, at all times during operation of remove carbon orother foreign matter which may vaporizing chamber beneath the level ofoil theresaid vaporizer, an amount of fuel in said chamber in excess ofthat which can be vaporized by the hot gases employed for such purpose,an air and vapor mixing device positioned to withdraw vapors from thevaporization chamber andmix the same with air to form a combustiblevaporous mixture, means for burning only a minor portion of saidvaporous mixture, and a conduit for delivering to the vaporizationchamber into intimate contact with said fuel the hot gases resultingfrom the burning of saidminor portion of said vaporous 17. A vaporizeras defined in claim 16, wherein .a relatively heavy liquid hydrocarbonfuel, said apparatus comprising a vaporization chamber, means formaintaining at all times in said vaporization chamber, during theoperation of the apparatus, an amount of liquid fuel inexcess of thatwhich can be vaporzedby the-hot combustion gases employed for suchpurpose, an air and vapor mixing device, a passageway connecting themixing device and-vaporization chamber, said mixing .device includingmeans for passing air therethrough so as to have a suction, effect towithdraw fuel vapors through said passageway and mix the same with saidair, a conduit for delivering the resulting mixture of air and 'vapor tothe combustion device, a connection between said mixing device and saidconduit, a pilot burner, means for withdrawing a small portion only ofsaid mixture of air and vapor and delivering the same for combustion atsaid pilot burner, and means for delivering the hot products ofcombustion of the pilot burner into the vaporization chamber intointimate contact with said excess of liquid fuel, whereby to vaporizeonly a portion thereof, said vaporized portion-being in proportion tothe amount of hot products delivered to tube near said forcing nozzlewhereby fuel vapor pipe having an opening beneath the operating isentrained with the air and mixed therewith, means for withdrawing an airand vapor mixture as it leaves the aspirator, a pilot light for burningsaid air and vapor mixture, means for delivering hot gases of combustionfrom the pilot light to the lower portion of the vapor chamber, andmeans for maintaining a pool of liquid fuel in the vapor chamber at alevel above that at which said hot gases are delivered.

20. An apparatus for vaporizing liquid fuels comprising a vaporizingchamber for holding a pool of the liquid=to be vaporized, a pipeleadingfrom a source of hot gases of combustion, said pipe having an'openingbeneath the operating level of the pool of said liquid to be vaporized,a passageway leading from the vaporizing chamber to a mixing space, aconnection through which at least minor proportion of the mixture of airand fuel vapor may be withdrawn, means for burning the withdrawnmixture, and means for leading the resulting hot gases of combustioninto and through said first mentioned pipe.

21.'An apparatus for vaporizing liquid fuels comprising a vaporizingchamber for holding a pool of the liquid to be vaporized, a pipe leadingfrom a source of hot gases of combustion, said level of the pool of saidliquid to bevaporized, a eway leading from the vaporizing chamber to amixing space, a pipe through which a source of air under relatively highvelocity is supplied,

said latter pipe leading into said mixing space, a pilot burner forburning a minor proportion of the resulting mixture of air and fuelvapor whereby hot gases of combustion are formed, and means for leadingthe resulting hot gases of combustion into and through said first-men-.tioned pipe. a

, 22. An apparatus for vaporizing liquid fuels comprising a vaporizingchamber serving to support a pool of liquid fuel in the lower portionthereof, aspirating means including a forcing nozzle connected to saidvaporizing chamber, means for passing hot gases of combustion directlyinto and beneath the surface of the pool of liquid fuel within saidvaporizing chamber whereby vaporization of the fuel is effected, meansfor delivering air under pressure through said forcing nozzle wherebythe fuel vapors are withdrawn from the vaporizing chamber and thoroughlycommingled with the air, means for by-passing a portion of the resultingmixture of air and fuel vapors and burning it whereby hot gases ofcombustion are formed, and means for utilizing said latter hot gases ofcombustion to effect the vaporization of additional quantities of theliquid fuel disposed within said vaporizing chamber.

23. Anapparatusforvaporizingliquidfuelscomprising a vaporizing chamberserving to support a pool of liquid fuel in the lower portion thereof,aspirating means including a forcing nozzle conneoted to said vaporizingchamber, means for passing hot gases of combustion directly into andbeneath the surface of the pool of liquid fuel within said vaporizingchamber whereby vapor- 7 ization of the fuel is effected, and means fordelivering air under pressure-through said forcing nozzle whereby thefuel vapors are withdrawn from the vaporizing chamber and thoroughlycommingled with the air. Y

24. An apparatus for vaporizing liquid fuels comprising a vaporizingchamber serving to support a pool of liquid fuel in the lower portionzation of the fuel is effected, means for delivering air under pressurethrough said forcing nozzle whereby the fuel vapors are withdrawn fromthe vaporizing chamber and thoroughly commingled with the air, means forby-passing a portion of the resulting mixture of air and fuel vapors andburning it whereby hot gases of combustion are formed, and means forutilizing said latter hot gases of combustion to effect the vaporizationof additional quantities of the liquid fuel disposed within saidvaporizing chamber.

25. An apparatus for vaporizing liquid fuels comprising a vaporizingchamber serving to support a pool of liquid fuel in the lower portionthereof, aspiratin g means including a forcing nozzle connected to saidvaporizing chamber, means for passing hot gases of combustion intointimate contact with said pool of liquid fuel within said vaporizingchamber whereby vaporization of the fuel is effected, and means fordelivering air under pressure through said forcing nozzle whereby thefuel vapors are withdrawn from the vaporizing chamber and thoroughlycommingled with the air.

4'. 26. An apparatus for vaporizing liquid fuels comprising a vaporizingchamber serving to support a pool of liquid fuel, said vaporizingchamber having an opening in the upper portion thereof, means tovaporize said liqiud'fuel, means for supplying a stream of underpressure and forcing it past said opening whereby the fuel vapors arewithdrawn from said vaporizing cham-- her and entrained in said airstream whereby thorough commingling of'the air and fuel vapors iseffected, means for by-passing a portion of the resulting mixtureof airand fuel vapors and burning it to produce hot gases of combustion, andmeans for utilizing said hot gases of combustion to eflect thevaporization 'of additional quantities of said liquid fuel..

27. An apparatus for vapbriz ingtliquid fuels comprising avaporizingchamber serving to support a pool of liquid fuel, a passageway leadingfrom said vaporizing chamber to a constricted opening formed in a pipe,means for delivering a stream of air under pressure into and throughsaid constricted opening whereby liquid fuel vapor is withdrawn fromsaid vaporizing chamber and thoroughly commingled with said stream ofair, means for by-passing a minor proportion of the resultingair andfuel vapor and burning it to provide hot gaseous products of combustion,and means. for utilizing said not gaseous products of combustion forvaporizing additional n i i s or the liquid fuel-in the vaporizingchamber. 3 g Y 28: An apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein the lastmentioned means comprises a pipe which serves to carry the hot gaseousproducts of combustion beneath the surface of the pool of. liquidfueldisposed within the vaporizing chamber.

29. In a fuel vaporizing apparatus, a vaporizcombustion beneath thesurface of said pool of. liquid fuel in the vaporizing chamber toinitiate vaporization thereof. v

CHARLES A. FRENCH.

